Today Button started school.
She has been bursting at the seams with excitement about this for months…as have I.
She’s so ready for this. She’s itching to learn and is convinced, in the way only a 4 year old can be, that she is a Very Big Girl. Which is why I’m ready for it too. With the best will in the world, I am not enough excitement for her.
I am her port in a storm.
I am her comfort when she is hurt or scared.
I am the boundary to be pushed.
I am the provider of cookies and milk and movies.
And huggles and kisses and stories and songs (although Daddy is much better at those than I).
And a million other good things.
But I am not enough.
And that, dear reader, is exactly how it should be at this point in her life.
And so today, she took the first steps to independence and education.
I although I swore I wouldn’t, I did shed a tear (or two…).
Not because I’m sad to be losing my baby to the world (because I’ll always be here for her).
Or that she isn’t a baby any more (although that really does suck…I’m not at all sure how that happened).
No, today I shed a tear of pride at the little girl, who is physically one of the smaller children in the class (look at those double rolled sleeves!) but who has the biggest heart I’ve ever encountered. Who, after chiding me to ensure she “didn’t miss her class”, and shucking her coat at high speed, had, within a further 30 seconds, approached a rather worried looking little girl and asked her name.
Having introduced herself, she promptly declared “Lets be friends. Lets go and play”.
I think she’s going to do just fine in the big wide world. Don’t you?
Oh, this totally made me cry! What a gorgeous girl who’s going to be just fine in the big kid world.
I think so…I hope so. She’s pretty awesome. x
Have to admit, I shed a tear myself. That is one totally confident little girl and you and hubby should be proud of yourselves for enabling her to show that confidence and concern for others around her. Well done all of you! xx
Thank you Sue. You spend so much time as a parent second-guessing yourself, it’s lovely sometimes to realise you’re doing at least some of it right. She’s a star!
Oh she’s so precious! Thank you for sharing her with us a bit, and your thoughts… 🙂 It’s kind of nice, having little girls close to the same age… You got to love that 4-year-old self-assurance. Sigh.
You should be so proud!
I am proud…of both of them. I know you are of Lila.
Mine had such a tough start and are such amazing kids. I pray she stays this confident…I’m going to work hard to make sure she does. She’s awesome.
Oh she is going to do great in the world. SHe is already off to a great start! I love this story, I’m going to print it for my 7th grade class tomorrow and have them reflect on their first day of school – all those years ago.
Thank you…I do think she’s heading in the right direction. How did your 7th grade class get on with their reflections?
Oh my ~ such a sweetie! She looks adorable in her uniform.
So nice to see that she loves school 🙂
It’s a huge relief…I really didn’t have a great school experience and don’t want that for her or The Boy. But this seems a happy school and although she’s a little tired, she’s settle right in already. Phew!
Oh wow she is failrly bursting at the seams isn’t she! How was her first day? How did you get on with your little boy just for you for the day? Or was it a writing writing writing working day for you as well….
I was as proud as punch when my two started school this time last year as well.
And look at those rolled up sleeves ….. sigh.
She was fizzing…and still is. She hadn’t realised she gets to go every single day and is thrilled. It was lovely just having time for me and The Boy. We haven’t had that time alone like Button and I did for a year before he came home. We are excited to have this next year together as he’s only doing nursery for 2 1/2 days a week.
I’m skiving off the work this week. A calm before the storm! 😉
And the little rolled up sleeves get me every time.
Your Button is adorable and she looks soooooooo excited in the second photo, I can feel it fizzing through the monitor 🙂
She is adorable! But also a complete minx! But she was positively vibrating with excitement. It hasn’t abated.
She is so sweet. I know this will sound silly but her smile reminds me of you.
I have always said that the way social services match you to your children is nothing short of alchemy. One of my best friends also has an adopted child and I swear I forget all the time because the family resemblance is so strong. It always gives me the warm fuzzies when someone mentions it.